completing Human units looking at Changing Spaces: Making Places (how we interact and develop our local areas) followed by our Global Connections (patterns of migration, economic growth and globalisation), with the option unit on Disease Dilemmas.

taking part in a mandatory field visit within our region in year 12.

undertaking the field work element for the A-level Independent Investigation by attending the residential in the summer term of Y12. This is the basis for your unique Investigation to be completed over the summer between Y12 and Y13. The final work completed and submitted by December of Y13.

All units are very much focused on ensuring the latest, relevant content about issues such world cities and changing landscapes and processes, and students are given the opportunity of selecting their own enquiry for their investigation.

AS and A-level

completion of numerous past paper questions, personal investigations, group work projects and presentations, and prepare, plan and write essays will be accompanied by verbal and written feedback.

Learning beyond the classroom

taking opportunities to get out and explore, and visit different environments and locations to experience real geography! There are 2 days of field work for the AS course, and the legendary Dunbar Fieldwork has always formed the basis for the week for the A-level investigation. This week is mandatory to prepare you for the Independent Investigation.

asking stimulating questions and exploring the theories and processes beyond the classroom, is a tangible way of reinforcing the learning from the classroom.

utilising some of the available study sessions within the department to access resources and to stretch the level of work to ensure target grades are reached or exceeded.

Teachers of KS5 geography

Geography (Year 13 only)

Topics studied in KS5 Geography

• questioning and making sense of the world, equipping us with the skills necessary for success in the 21st Century
• studying Earth’s landscapes as well the way in which people live and how they interact with the environment
• linking our understanding of physical and social processes within the context of particular places
• developing understanding of the key concept of sustainable development
• exploring social, economic and environmental issues that are both relevant to them at a local scale and facing the world
• studying geography to enable us to develop as global citizens
• developing our ability to ask questions and find out the answers
• developing skills such as decision making, problem solving, handling data, analysing materials and writing reports
• becoming good communicators, strong team players, self managers, well rounded thinkers, spatially aware, ICT literate, and to be socially and environmentally aware
• completing units, at AS level two core units titled ‘water on the land’ and ‘population’, then a further two units selected from a list of Human and Physical content – such as desert environments, health issues, cold environments, or energy issues
• completion for AS level of a field work and skills based unit
• taking part in a mandatory field visit within our region in the spring of year 12
• completion of A2 units which follow a similar pattern, however there are no core units, there is a mixture of human and physical content along the theme of contemporary conflicts and challenges
• completion of the field work element for A2 is based on work completed during our annual visit to Dunbar, Scotland
• A2 units are very much focused on ensuring the latest, relevant content about issues such ‘world cities’ and ‘changing weather and climate, and students are given the option of selecting which units they would like to follow

Assessment

Currently with AQA, there are two sets of terminal exams

AS level

• Unit 1 is based on the four units studied through the year and is worth 70% of the AS grade or 35% of the A2 grade, assessed by exam paper
• Unit 2 is the skills based paper which is centred on analysing and interpreting data, as well as detailing the fieldwork undertaken during this year of the course, this paper is worth 30% of the AS grade or 15% of A2 grade

A2 level

• Unit 3 is a mixture of data response and essay questions based on the units studied through the year, a paper worth 30% of the A2 level
• Unit 4 is a geography fieldwork investigation (worth 20% of A2 level), it is structured short and extended questions based on students fieldwork investigation and fieldwork skills

AS and A2 level

• students review and both self and peer assess their work
• completion of numerous past paper questions, personal investigations, group work projects and presentations, and prepare, plan and write essays will be accompanied by verbal and written feedback

Learning beyond the classroom

• taking opportunities to get out and explore, and visit different environments and locations to experience real geography!
• asking stimulating questions and exploring the theories and processes beyond the classroom, is a tangible way of reinforcing the learning from the classroom
• utilising some of the available study sessions within the department to access resources and to stretch the level of work to ensure target grades are reached or exceeded
• viewing essntial TV documentaries such as Horizon, Bang Goes the Theory and Channel 4 News
• researching ideas and material through hard and digital media is vital – with the proviso of avoiding evaluating the material gathered to avoid bias and ensure fact not opinion
• keeping abreast of current issues is essential in developing the skills of “thinking like a geographer” if students are to reach the A* grade.